Mail-service system.



N0. 677,423. l Paented luly 2,190l.

G. A. OWEN.

MAlL SERVICE SYSTEM.

(Applicatio led Oct. 15, 1898.) (N 0 M 0 d e l 1n: cams ma: co,mirra-1.11m.. wmmarou n c l Patented Julyl 2, |90I.

(nu num.)

No. 677,423. Patented my 2,1901. G. A. owEN.

MAIL SERVICE SYSTEM.

(Application filed Oct. 15, 1898.) (No Model.) I3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

mums vmns co, mmurvlu.. wAsanmon. n. c.

Patented Iuly 2, I90I. G. A. OWEN. y MAIL SERVICE SYSTEM.

(Application filed Oct. 15, 1898.) (No Model.) I3 Sheets-Sheet 4.'

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-H fl-L N \.\u a5 ww nfnr u llrnl lll-u JN N UID l.) hw 2r /QB o nl 55w. .fw 0 1 H W No. 677,423. Patented lllly 2, |90l. G. 'A. OWEN.

MAIL SEBVICE-SYSTEM.

(Application filed Oct. 15, 1898.) dio Model.) I3 Sheets-Sheet 5.

No. 677,423. Patented luly 2, |901. G. A. OWEN.

MAIL lSEE'VIGE SYSTEM.

(Application led Oct. 15, 1898.) (No Model.) |43 Sheets-Sheet 6.

No. 677,423.- Patented luly 2, |901.

6. A. OWEN. MAIL SERVICE SYSTEM.

(Application filed Oct. 15, 189B.) (No Model.) I3 Sheets- Sheet 7.

No. 677,423( Patented luiy 2, |90I.

. A. owen.

MAIL SERVICE SYSTEM.

(Application led Oct. 15, 1898.) A Y (No Model.) I3 Sheets-Sheet 8.

No. 677,423. Patented July 2, 190i.

. G. A. OWEN.

MAiL SERVICE SYSTEM.

(Aprhcat cn led Oct 15 189B (No Model.) I3 Sheets-Sheet 9.

UEEEEEEEEE .UEEEEEDEDE uammmmmmm EEE@ E@ No. 677,423. Patented July 2,|90l. G. A. UWEN.

MAIL SERVICE SYSTEM.

(Application Sled Oct. 15, 1898.)

I3 ShB8S-S|l99 l0. E f I l (No Model.)

No. 677,423. Patented July 2, 190|. G. A. owEN.

MAIL SERVICE SYSTEM.

l (Application filed oct. 15, 189s.) (No Model.) I3 Sheets-Sheet Il.

No. 677,423. Patented luly 2, |90I.

G. A. OWEN.

MAIL SERVICE SYSTEM.

(Application led Oct. 15, 1898.) (No Model.) I3 SheetsShee I2.

ma nonms PE1-says co, Puo'ruu'mo., wAsmNGToN, uA c.

No. 677,423. Patented July 2, |90. G. A. OWEN.

MAIL SERVICE SYSTEM.

(Applicatiun led Oct. 15, 1898.) (No Model.) y I3 SheeIs-Sheet- I3.

f NITED STATES PATENT Clarion.:

GEORGE ALFRED OWEN, OFSPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

:WML-SERVICE SYSTEM.

SEEGEFICA TECN forming part of Letters Patent No. 677,423, dated July 2,1901.

Application filed October 15,1898. Serial No. 693,614. (No model.)

To all) whom t may concern:

Be it known that LGEORGE ALFRED OWEN, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Springfield, in the county of Hampden andState of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Mail-Service Systems, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact Vdescription.

This invention relates to new and improved means for the distribution inpost-oiiices of the individual mail into respective receptacles orcompartments therefor in a conveyer or mechanical carrier, to means forthe guidance, support, and propulsion of the carrier, to stationscomprisingr mail-receiving boxes, post-stations located at suitableintervals or places in the city or-town into which certain portions ofthe assorted mail for individuals are respectively delivered, and tomeans for automatically collecting in a suitable receptacle therefor inthe conveyer the promiscuous mail-matter that may have been deposited ina mailing-box at the post-station.

The invention contemplates the sorting of the mail for individuals atthe post-office, the placing of the same in the compartments in thecarrier, the then bringing the carrier onto the trackway therefor inwhich a feed-current is continuous for the propulsion of the motor withwhich the conveyer is provided, so that the conveyer will be caused totravel successively to the letter-box post-stations, delivering portionsof the mail suitably distributed into the service-boxes therein, theconveyer being automatically stopped at the poststation to insure notonly certainty of the delivery, but also to afford ample time for thereception therein of the mail-matter from the mailing-box in the givenpost-station, the conveyer then resuming its travel to the nextpoststation,where furtherportions of the assorted mail therein aredelivered, as before, and further out going mail-matter received, and soon until all of the assorted contents of the conveyer have beendelivered into as many post-stations as the conveyer has the capacit Yofserving and until the mail has been collected from such severalpoststations, it being understood that the track- Way may beadvantageously arranged as a belt line returning to the post-ofce,whereupon the collected mail brought thereto may be removed from the conveyerand disposed of for transmission, as usual, and the conveyer againcharged with a further assorted mail to be delivered to the post-stationboxes on the next trip.

It Will be further explained that the poststations are to be located incommunities with such frequency or closeness of disposition as to benear and convenient to residents or business men in the section, andthat each resident, family, business man,tor corporation, as the casemay be, having a lock-box at the post-station procures the mailtherefrom at his own convenience.

In short, it will be perceived that the object of this invention is toperform mechanically orelectromechanically and automatically the Workheretofore performed by postmen.

Another provision of the equipments consists in means for thenotification by the op eration of an audible or other signal to thosefor Whom mail-matter has been deposited in their mail-receiving box atthe post-station of the fact thereof, so that they maylose no time afterthe arrival into their box of their mail in taking it therefrom.

To these ends the invention consists in the construction of the conveyerwith a View to its capacity for receiving the individual assorted mailthereinto and to its capability for discharging the mail in certainseries of` its compartments successively, and also in the constructionof the conveyer whereby it is adapted for receiving theposted mailthereinto from the letter-boxes in the various poststations; and theinvention furthermore consists in the provisions for electricalpropulsion of the conveyer and to constructions wherebythemail-receiving part of the conveyer may be detached from themotor-supporting portion, so that the compartments may receive in aconvenient manner in the post-office while the motor-supporting portionremains supported upon or in connection with the trackway.

The invention furthermore consists in the trackway structure wherebyprovision is established for the feed and return currents for thepropulsion of the conveyer and whereby the same is stable and durable.

The invention furthermore consists in the IOO post-Stations providedwith the individual mail-boxes having upwardly-opening passages orchutes leading thereto and having a movable mail-elevating box, and inthe combination of appliances provided in the station with appliancesprovided to the conveyer, whereby the conveyer :is stopped at itsarrival at the station momentarily, then caused to proceed in its traveland automatically discharged of the contents of a certain series of itscompartments corresponding to the number of post-station receivingletter-boxes, and whereby the promiscuous outgoing mail posted in theletterelevating box of the post-station will be delivered into theconveyer; and the invention furthermore consists in constructions,arrangements, and combinations of parts to the end of providing apractical and efficient system for the rapid, frequent, and inexpensivemanipulation of the individual mail and one which may be maintained atsmall cost, all substantially as will hereinafter fully appear, and beset forth in the claims.

Reference is'to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which thepresent system for individual mail distribution and delivery and formail collection is illustrated, and in which- Figure 1 is a perspectiverepresentation of the letter-box post-station, (which is understood asone of many provided at suitable intervals throughout the city or townor any given portion thereof,) of the t'rackway, and one of the maildelivering and collecting conveyers approaching the post-station. Fig. 2is a perspective view illustrating the conveyer, portions thereof beingseparated one from the other, the motor-provided portion remaining onthe trackway understood as entering a room in the post-office, while theportion thereof having the multiple series of compartments orreceptacles for individually-assorted mail is lowered down below thetrack, and in connection with this lowered portion of the conveyer isshown the raising and lowering support therefor and truck on which suchsupport is mounted. Fig. 3 is substantially a longitudinal verticalsection through the conveyer, the motor for its propulsion and thetrackway on which it runs being shown in side elevation. Fig. ft is ahorizontal sectional view through the portion of the conveyer having themultiple series of compartments for the assorted mail to be delivered.Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, showing thetrackway and a portion of the supporting-bracket therefor, together withthe parts comprised in the feed and return conductors and indicating bydotted lines the bearing positions of the roller-wheels provided on themotor-conveyer. Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of the same part shownin Fig. 5, as seen at right angles thereto, the atorenamed roller-wheelsbeing, however, omitted.' Fig. 7 is in the nature of a diagram designedto illustrate in a simple manner the currentconductors and provisionsfor the electric circuit through the trackway. Fig. 8 is a centralvertical section through one of the stations comprising the series ofletter-boxes corresponding to individuals to be served adjacent suchpost-station and indicating by dotted lines the location of the box forposting the outgoing mail. Fig. 9 is a horizontal section and partialplan view as taken on the line 9 9, Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a verticalsection substantially on line 10 10, Fig. 9, but on an enlarged scale,of the box for the outgoing mail provided in the post-station. Fig. 11represents in horizontal sectional View and partial plan the relationsofthe conveyer and its conjnnctive appliances to those ofthe station atthe time the conveyer has entered and stopped at the post-station. Fig.12 is an elevation of the parts referred to in Fig. 11, such view beingtaken endwise of the conveyer. Fig. 13 is an elevation, with portionsbroken out and in section, of the same parts shown in Fig. 12, but astaken at right angles thereto. In both Figs. 12 and 13 the commonelevating mail-box in the post-station for the outgoing mail is shown aselevated to its position for delivering into the conveyer. Fig. 14C is asectional elevation th rough the post-station as seen in the oppositedirection from Fig. 13, the parts being in their normal positions, as isthe casein the absence of the conveyer from within the station,whereupon the common letter` box for the post-station is in its loweredposition, which is the position which it occupies for the reception ofthe mail to be posted thereinto. Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 14,but showing the movable parts as in their positions established by theentrance of the conveyer through the station, the movable mailbox beingelevated into its mail-discharging position. Fig. 1G is a sectionalelevation of the truck-supported elevating and lowering device for theone separable portion of the conveyer. Figs. 17 and 18 are views insectional elevation and perspective showing the antomatic mechanism indetail for stopping the motor-conveyer and for permitting it shortlythereafter to resume its travel. perspective and sectional View througha part of a post-station comprising the individual letter boxes andshowing in conjunction therewith the means for electrically operatingthe signaling apparatus which indicates in an adjacent house thepresence of mailmatter in a given letter-box corresponding to suchhouse. Fig. 2O is a perspective view, Fig. 2l a side elevation andpartial sectional view, and Fig. 22 is a cross-sectional view,illustrating a modification in the construction of the means actuated bythe presence of the conveyer within the elevated post-stationletter-box.

Corresponding parts in all of the views are denoted by like charactersof reference.

I will first proceed to describe the con vcyer, represented at large bythe letter A.

The conveyer comprises the body portion ICO IIO

in the form of a rectangular casing 25, open at its base and having thedetachable top or roof 26, carrying the electric motor B. Theconveyer-casing has provided therein, tier above tier, the multipleseries of compartments 27 27, one horizontal tier or series beingseparated slightly from the next, and the compartments ot' every seriesare open at top and base, as shown in Fig. 3, and, as seen in Figs. 2and 4, the conveyer-casing has tiers of its multiple series compartmentsat the one side separated from a like number of sets of the compartmentsat the other side by the partition 28,vertically andlongitudinallyprovided, dividing the casing. Each horizontal tier orseries of the individual inail-receiving compartments 27 has a removablebase, constituted by the respectively provided curtain or flexible apron29, having winding connection with the spring-actuated roller 30, whichlatter has no novelty in itself, being the same or analogous to anordinary spring-curtain roller. From the roller the curtain is unwoundand drawn horizontally under the horizontal series of compartments tothe opposite end of the casing, where it is temporarily connected by acatch or detent 32 or pairs thereof for each curtain mounted on tivelyprovided rock-shaft 33, having the weighted arm 3i for holding thedetent up to its engagement position. The end of the curtain to beengaged by the detent or detents therefor is provided with a suitablemetallic engagement member or members 3l, provided at the free end ofthe curtain.

In addition to the catches or detents 32 at the ends of the multipleseries of the compartments there are similarly-provided rockshaftstraversing thereunder at suitable intervals intermediate between theends of the series of compartments, so that even when the curtain isreleased at its point of restraintunder the end compartments of theseries and left su bj ect to being drawn horizontally thereunder it willbe intersected and arrested by restraining devices in su ccession, so asto still provide bases for subdivisionsor minor series of the wholeseries in one tier. Each detentcarrying rock-shaft has at its endoutside of the conveyer-casin g the upstanding lever-arm 35, which whenswung by being contacted upon by an abutment 36, Fig. l2, within thepost station through which the conveyer passes, will cause the detentson such rockshaft to be disengaged from the end of the curtain, leavingthe curtain free to be drawn from under the minor series of the tier ofcompartments located between one detent and the next.

It will be explained that it is a simple matter to so arrange thedetent-carrying rockshaft arms 35 and the abutments 36 in thepost-stations that the one post-station abutment will engage and triponly one of the arms 35, all the others escaping such abutment. In otherwords, in each post-station is an abutment which will serve to liberatethe respecthe flexible and movable base under a certain number of thecompartments which are to deliver the assorted individual mail thereininto the receiving-boxes corresponding thereto in the post-station.

The conveyer after a trip comes around or returns back to thepost-oflice with all of its curtains completely wound upon therespective rollers therefor, so that all of the compartments are thenbaseless. y

The compartments are of uniform size, so that each one of a given tieris directly over that of the tier below.

The mail-distributer, by a rod 37, entered through a perforation 38 inthe end of the conveyer-casing, forces the curtain (by having the rod inforcing engagement against the angular upturned metallic end of thecurtain) for the lowermost multiple series of the compartments forwardto be engaged by the detent at the farther end, thereby providing thebase for the lower series. He then drops the mail for individuals intothe compartments of the lower series, respectively, as occasionrequires, they passing thereto through the then baseless compartmentsabove, and so as soon as the lower series compartments have receivedtheir charge the curtain to constitute the base for the second seriesfrom the bases is drawn thereunder and engaged with the catch devicetherefor, and after that series has received its properly-distributedmail the base-constituting curtain for the third lowest compartment isdrawn thereunder and restrained, and so on up to the last one, when thecharging of the conveyer is completed.

The weights 3i, aforementioned, maintain the catches in their positionsof engagement with the end pins 3l of the curtain, and the stop-pins 40prevent the weights from swinging the upstanding arms beyond theirproper normal positions.

As shown in Fig. 4, where there are two banks of tiers of themultiple-series compartments occupying different side portions of thespace within the casing of the conveyer, the rock-shafts on which thedetents for the curtain of the tiers of each of the side portions aremounted are sleeved the one over the one end half of the other, eachrock-shaft having its individual upstanding arm 35, the weight forretracting it to its normal position after it has been swung to itsreleasing position, and also the paired detents or catches.

The capacity of the conveyer here illustrated is fourteen hundredcompartments, although the number is to be variable in different placesin accordance with the mailservice demands. As I have designed thisconveyer the size of each individual mailspace is length five inches,width one and one-half inches, and depth eight inches. The conveyer maybe manufactured entirely of aluminium.

The rectangular compartment-casing, constructedopen both at its top andits base, except as regards the trap-door 42 at the base IOO IIO

along one side thereof, as hereinafter referred to, has the separabletop or roof 26, which fits over the upper vedge of thecompartment-inclosing casing in the manner of a telescoping box-coverand has the swing-bolts 43, which engage within the recesses therefor inthe lugs 44 on the sides of the casing, the nuts 45 binding andretaining the parts in their temporary connection, whereby theconveyer-casing and its motor-supporting top are for the time beingstably united as an integral structure.

The motor B is suspended on the brackets 46, depending below theconveyer-top'26, the motor comprising, as usual, the field-magnets 47,the armature 4S, having on its shaft the pinion gear-wheel 49, withwhich meshes the gear-wheel 50, also mounted to rotate in a journalprovided beneath the conveyer-top, said gear-wheel protruding upwardlythrough an aperture in the top and driving a gearwheel 52, journaled inthe upstanding bracket 53, having united thereto the roller-wheel 54,the edge of which is grooved or hollowed to run on the rounded top ofthe invertedtrough-shaped track 55.

The conveyer-top is provided with transverse bar 56, the depending endsof which form supports for such bar, whereby it has its position abovethe conveyer-top, as seen in Fig. 2, and engaged with this bar 56, bythe eyes thereof, are two upstanding arms 57 57, carrying journaledbetween their ends the grooved roller 58, which also runs on the track.Toward the opposite end of the conveyer from that at which said roller58 is located is another grooved roller having a rolling engagement onthe top of the track, the same being journaled in the rigid upstandingbracket 60. The rollers 59 58, the latter being in a manner looselymounted for yielding transversely, as permitted by the possibility ofthe arms 57 sliding relatively to the bar 56, in conjunction with themotor-driven traction-roller 54, serve to prevent the tractionrollerfrom j umping by being disengaged from the trackway, and yet permiteasily the rounding of curves, as occasioned by the feed-conductorhaving its course from one street into another at right angles thereto.

The inVerted-trough-shaped track 55 rests upon a wire or cable 62,located beneath its crown or arch-shaped top, and at intervalssupporting bracket-arms 63 arer provided at the upper end of posts 64,which primarily support the track and feed conductors. Ranging alongparallel with and beneath the cable is a wire or continuous electricconductor 65 for the return-current, the same being provided with atongue or web 66, whereby it is supported between clamping-blocks 67 67,which are located within the trough-track, and one side section of whichis bolted to the bracket-arm 63, as aforementioned. The said blocks 6767 are advantageously of wood, although they may be of metal oranysuitable material. The return-current conductor 65 is insulated inany suitable manner from the trackway, and in the drawings, Fig. 5, isshown a section 68 of said tongue, which is of insulating material.

The conveyer is shown as having at its top the upwardly-inclinedtrolley-arm'70, carrying at its extremity the grooved trolley-wheel 72in underrunning bearing against the return-conductor, the same being bythe wire or conductor 73 suitably connected with the motor, and the wire74, Fig. 3, is also connected with the motor and through thetraction-roller wheel 54 with the track or rail 55.

In Fig. 7, 75 conventionally indicates a dynamo machine or generator,76being the feedwire connecting the same with the feed rail or track 55,the track and return wire at the end of the track being connected by thewire 77, and the return-wire is by the conductor 7S connected back tothe generator. In practice the joining of the feed-track and returnwiremay be near or within the post-office, to which these parts are returnedafter extending outwardly through the streets of the city, and thegenerator may also be located in or near the post-o'fce. When themotor-conveyer is on the track with the underrunning trolley 72 incontact against the under side of the return-wire 65, the current or aportion thereof will be short-circuited through the motor driving thesame for the propulsion of the conveyer, as well known.

It will be here mentioned that the conveyercasing has at its one sidethe compartment a, with the down-swinging door 42 and a fastening device79 for holding the latter closed. The conveyer, moreover, has theaperture 8O extending along its side, closing which are thedoor-sections 82, arranged to be inwardly swung by pressure from withoutagainst their springs S3, which maintain them normally closed. Thiscompartment is for the purpose of receiving the mail posted in thepost-stations to be brought by the conveyer to the post-office foroutward transmission.

C represents one of the post-stations, the same consisting of a suitablybulky hollow casing supported by a post or pillar 84, having base-prongs85,whereby it is anchored in the ground or pavement in a secure andstable manner, these post-stations to be approximately ten or twelvefeet high and to be made of art metal. The lower portion of thepoststation casing comprises a series of letterboxes or mail-receivingreceptacles b, forwardly opening, the same having individually andrespectively leading thereto the chutes d, upwardly opening inchecker-board arrangement, their ends or mouths all being in the samehorizontal plane, as indicated in Figs. 8 and 9,which arrangementcorresponds to or matches with some predetermined portion or subseriesof the conveyer-compartments, so that when the con veyer is brought andstopped to register directly over the upwardly-opening orifices of thechutes leading into the individual mail-receptacles and the temporaryIOO IIO

IZO

base for such series of the compartments is removed from thereunder themail will fall and be conveyed through the chutes to the individualboxes, each of which has its locking-door b2. For instance, there may befor the iirst post-station forty letter-boxes and forty chutes conveyingdownwardly and forwardly thereinto, and it may be provided that theforty compartments of the lowermost tier in the forward right-handcorner of the conveyer will be automatically discharged of themail-matter therein into said chutes, and for the next post-station theseries next to the left of said compartment will be discharged, or itmay be so provided that the next series of compartments behind the onerst delivered will be discharged, this merely depending onprearrangement, providing properly the location of the abutment 36 inthe upper part of the post-station through which the conveyer is passed.

The post-station structure has its casing preferably widened at itsupper part, substantially as shown, and is provided at its ends with theflap-doors S6, the forward pair of these doors as regarded relative tothe course of travel of the conveyer opening forwardly outward,while theother pair of doors are arranged to open forwardly inward, as seen inFigs. 11 and 13, suitable closingsprings 87 being provided at the hingesof the doors, as indicated in Fig. 12.

It is perceived that the trackway and feed conductors pass through thestation near the upper central portion thereof.

It is of course required that the conveyer coming within the upper partof the post-station will briefly remain therein before proceedingthrough and to the next post-station to afford time for the delivery ofthe assorted mail and for the taking on of the promiscuous mail, whichmay have been posted in the station, and as means to this end attentionis called to devices, as follows: The journal`A shaft of thetraction-roller 54, which is driven by the motor B, has theaxially-extended lefthand screw 90, provided with a coarse thread. (SeeFigs. 11, 12, and 17.) Abracket-arm or support 92 projects from the oneside wall of the station near the top thereof having thetransversely-supported bar or portion 93, its line of extensionhorizontally being above the top 20 of the conveyer and at the level ofthe screw; but the innermost end of this bracket is odset from theposition of the said screwended part 90. The said portion 93 constitutesa guideway with which one side of the half-nut 9i has a horizontalsliding engagement, a dovetailed rib-and-groove engagement being shown,and the half-nut is no'rmally projected to occupy a position across thelongitudinal line along which the screw 90 moves in unison with theconveyer by reason of the spring 95, which surrounds the rod 96, whichis provided as an end extension of the half-nut and which plays througha perforation 97 in the angular lug 9S, formed as a part of the bar 93,said spring being interposed between the lug and the end of thehalf-nut, and the stop 99 prevents the spring from forcing thehalf-nutin an undue extent along the said part 93.

As indicated in Fig. 7, the portion of one of the current-conductorsadjacent the poststation G-here the return-conductor-is covered withinsulating material 100 for a suitable len gt-h,so that as the conveyerapproaches the post-station the current will not be carried through'themotor for the positive propulsion thereof, but the conveyer will for ashort time be run by momentum for the instant just before reaching thestop; but the insulated section terminates just before the screw hascome into engagement with the half-nut, so that then a driving impetuswill be given to the armature and connected wheels of the motor and themotor-shaft will be positively driven to insure the turning of the screwto crowd the half-nut endwise out of engagement therewith, whereupon thenut ceases to remain an impediment to the further travel of the conveyer, which will after having tarried long enough within thepost-station for the mail delivery and mail collection be permitted toresume its travel, it almost immediately coming upon an uninsulatedcurrent-conductor. The length and arrangement of the insulation may beregulated to correspond to the power and freedom of running or ofmaintaining rotary movements of the shaft 51 and connected partsimpelled by the motor.

The provision of the insulating-covering on one of the feed-conductorsadjacent the station is to minimize violence of contact by the conveyeragainst the temporarily obstructing half-nut.

D represents the mail-receiving receptacle within the post-station, inwhich is posted the mail for outward transmission, the same beingmovable. The normal position of this letter-box is in a suitable spacetherefor alongside the series of individual lock-boxes, the casing orwall of the post-station at a suitable height above the ground havingthe mailing-slot 102 therethrough, which com- IOO IIO

municates with the opening 103 in the front of said letter-'box D. (SeeFig. 10.)

This letter-box, as shown, is of rhomboidal form, its inclined wallsbeing at top and base and in its rear wall next to its inclined base isan outwardlyopening door 104, which closes the discharging-opening forthe box. This door has within the box, radially extended from the hinge,the rigid lever-arm 105, with which is connected the vertical rod 106,upwardly extended to a perforation in the top of the letter-box andterminating above said top. This letter-box D is by the cord or otheriiexible support 107 suspended, the cord havingawindingengagement aroundthe drum 108, and suitable guides 109 109 are provided for the verticalmovements of the cable and drum-supported and elevated letter-box. Thedrum 108 has on the shaft which constitutes its journal-support in theupper part of the casing a pinion 110, with which meshes the sector-likerack-gear 112, which is carried at the upper end of a lever 113 and ispivotally mounted at 114c upon the inner side of the wall of thepost-station, the relative location of the sector to the drumpinionbeing best seen in Fig.11. A link 115 connects one of theinwardly-opening doors 86 and said sector-carrying lever, so that whenthe said door is inwardly swung parallel with the side of thestation-wall this part will automatically insure the swinging of thesector-lever and the rotation of the drum elevating the movablepoststation mail-box up alongside of the conveyer next to themailreceiving compartments a thereof, and sok that the door 104 thereofis opposite some one of the sectional doors 82 S2, closing the longopening leading into the said conveyer-compartment Ct.

-It will be perceived, Figs. 11 to 15, that there is within and near thetop of the station a lug or abutment 117 directly over theaforementioned thrust-rod 106, and against which when the letter-box Dis elevated said thrust-rod is crowded and relatively moved, positivelyopening the letter-box door 101, and the positive and forcible openingof said letter-box door in turn opens one or perhaps two of thesectional doors leading into compartment a, whereupon the mail in box Dwill slide into the receptacle a therefor in the conveyer and be carriedby the latter from the station ultimately and with accumulation of mailsimilarly received from other stations baclc to the post-office.

It will be apparent that the departure of the conveyer from thepost-station permitting the station-doors to close automatically underthe .reaction of their springs will insure that the letter-box D willdescend to its normal position in the lower portion of the station.

Provision is made against the mailing of letters, c., through the slot102 in a station during the time the conveyer remains thereat and whenthe box D is not in its lowered place to receive such mail-matter, andto this below, through a perforation in which said rod has its guidingplay. The lower end of the letter-box in descending by its engagementwith the rearwardly-offset part 122 forces the shield into its lowermostposition against its elevating-spring, leaving the rear orice of saidslot 102 uncovered; but, as is plain, the removal upwardly of theletter-box leaves the spring unrestrained to force the shield to itsslot-obstructing position.

In Figs. 20, 21, and 22 a modication in the construction whichconstitutes the means for elevating and lowering the letter-box withinthe post-station is illustrated and will be now described.

Instead of employing an elevating-drum from which the box iscord-suspended and providing means for rotating the drum I may employ asuspension-cord 107*, which passes upwardly from the box D over andaround the two guiding-sheaves 126 127 to connection with the projection128, which is affixed as an angular part to the tube 129. It will beperceived that one depending edge portion of the cond uctor-track 55,which is within and adjacent the post-station, is formed with the bead130, which forms a longitudinal support and guide for the said tube.Said tube has also a second angular projection 132.

The shield or casing f, which forms the inclosure for the motor-gearingabove the conveyer, has pivoted thereon the angular lever 133, held inits depressed position by the spring 131, and its extremity normally inthe course of its bodily movement, traveling in unison with the conveyerin striking against the said projection 132, will force the tubeendwise, elevating the box to the same relative position and for thesame purpose, as

Ahereinbefore explained.

On the side ot' the track 55, suitably located, is an incline 135,againstv which the offset portion 136 of the angular lever has animpingement at about the time the tube has been sufficiently endwisemoved to secure the elevation of the letter-box, so that said lever isswungfrom its engagement with the projection 132 of the tube, and onsuch disengagment from its forwardly-forcing pressure by the saidbodily-carried lever 133 the tube will be retracted as occasioned by theweight of the letter-box, so that as the box is lowered the said tubewill reach its endwise rearward -position to be again forwardly `movedon the approach of the next conveyer similarly equipped.

'L' represents a buffer-spring against Which the tube has a cushionedimpact as the letterbox D reaches its lowered position.

Holders of boxes b in post-stations may, some or all thereof, haveequipments whereby signals in their houses may be operated to notifythem of the presence of mail in their respective boxes, and referring toFig. 19 in the drawings electric signaling appliances are illustrated. hrepresents wires constituting a normallyopen electric circuit withcontacts or circuit-closers 137 13S connected to their terminals, one ofthe contacts 139 being carried by the spring-arm 139, located at thefront of the letter-box, with its end near the base of the box andadapted to be moved by the pressure of a letter Vor other mail-matterthereagainst from behind onto the contact IOO IIO

13S to close the circuit. The circuit-conductors are extended into thepremises of the box-holder, having connected thereinto in the usual waya battery 110 and a signaling device 142, which is here represented asconsisting of a bell and electrically-actuated vibratory striker. Insaid view, Fig. 19, a letter is represented at x as having come down thechute into the letter-box and operating to close the circuit.

In order that the bell may not be sounded except when it shall be sodesired, a switch 143 is shown for the purpose of cutting out thesignaling apparatus.

It will be found desirable toleave the switch open when a box-holder isabsent and at night, so that even when there is inail-matter in the boxat such times or under other circumstances the bell will not be soundedand continued to sound to no good purpose and whereby the battery willnot be unnecessarily run down.

As shown in Fig. 10, the electric wires comprised in the severalcircuits respectively provided for the individual mail-receiving boxesin the post-station are in their course downwardly away from theirconnection with the contacts 137 13S brought together and combined inthe cable j, as indicated in Fig. 19, they being suitably insulated, andthis cable is passed downwardly through the hollow pillar 8-1, whichsupports the station structure. The electric wires are carriedunderground and inclosed inrthe conduit m, ranging along under thestreet in a community for which the given station serves,theindividualcircuitwires branching therefrom into the houses in an obvious mannersufficiently represented in the drawings.

The conveyer, having the considerable capacity for individual mail andfor collected mail, being necessarily comparatively bulky and heavyrenders the em ployment of a lowering and elevating means for thecompartment-provided body portion thereof most advantageous,as well alsoas does means for moving said conveyer-body from its position under itstrack-supported top to one where the distribution or assortment of themail in the post-office takes place and for the return thereof, and inFigs. 2 and 16 is illustrated a truck having an elevating and loweringplatform.

1li-t represents the main platform of the truck, provided with hangedwheels or rollers 145 145 to run on the trackway 146.

147 represents the elevating-platform, the same being supported on thepairs of crossed arms 1&8 148, pivoted both to the lower and upperplatforms and arranged in the manner of the members of lazy-tongs.

The shafts or rods 149 149, constituting the pivotal connection of theupper ends of said arms with the blocks 150, which move in the slideways151 of the upper platform, have provided thereon the blocks 152, whichhave threaded openings therethrough which are tapped for the receptionand engagement of the right and left hand threaded portions of thescrew-shaft 153, which is journaled for rotation and restrained againsten dwise movement in bracketsor journal-supports 154: at the oppositeends of said platform 147. Said shaft is provided with a handle, lever,or crank 155, by means of which to turn it, whereby, as is plain, theupper platform will be elevated or lowered accordingly as the shaft isturned in the direction to contract or distend the crossed arms 14S 14S.

In Figs. 1 and S the post-station C is represented as having itsenlarged upper portion, through which the conveyer is to be passed,widened outwardly, the lower portion of the station not. project-ingbeyond the edge of the sidewalk, and the post 64E, which supports thetrackway, has its upper part bent twice, so that there is a suitableclear space, as indicated at 61, Fig. 1, directly under the trackway forthe uni-mpeded passage of the conveyer.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. In a mail-service system, a conveyer having a mail-receivingreceptacle, means for the support, guidance and propulsion of theconveyer and post-stations located at suitably-distant intervals to andpast which the conveyer is carried, provided with a mail-box and meansoperated by the presence of the conveyer at a post-station fordischarging the mail-matter in the post-station mail-box into thereceiving-receptacle therefor in the conveyer.

2. In a inail-service system, a conveyer havingdownwardly-openingcompartmentstherein for theindividual mail andremovable bases therefor and provided with a motor and a traction wheelor 'roller therewith connected, means for the support and guidance ofthe conveyer, and feed and return current conductors, with which themotor is in electrical connection, and a source of electrical energytherewith connected, and post-stations located at suitably-distantintervals to and past which the conveyer is carried having individualupwardly-open mail-receiving receptacles, and means for insuring theautomatic displacement of-said removable bases for permitting thedischarge from the conveyer of the individual mail therein into thecorresponding receiving-boxes therefor in the post-stations, for thepurpose set forth.

3. In a inail-service system,a conveyer having compartments therein forthe assorted individual mail and having a receiving-receptacle, meansfor the support, guidance and propulsion of the conveyer, post-stationslocated at suitably-distant intervals to and past which the conveyer iscarried, having individual-mail-receiving receptacles and having anelevating mail-box in which promiscuous mail may be posted, means forinsuring the discharge from the conveyer of the individual IOO IIO

